Clifton Cottrell

Clifton Cottrell is a Lecturer at the University of Oklahoma's Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Native American Studies. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, he specializes in policy and legal mechanisms to enhance indigenous climate resilience and food security.

• BA, History and Political Science, University of the Ozarks, 2005
• MPAff, Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, 2007
• JD, Baylor University, 2012
• PhD, Policy Studies, University of Maryland, 2021

His research explores how tribal recognition status impacts climate change adaptation, addressing indigenous identity, disaster planning, treaty rights, and environmental governance. He emphasizes holistic approaches through 'nexus thinking' to integrate complex systems in policy solutions.

Cottrell's publications focus on federal Indian policy, tribal sovereignty, and environmental governance. His work spans legal analysis of the Clean Water Act, climate policy intersections with tribal economies, and innovative energy solutions for reservations, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with law, climate science, and indigenous knowledge systems.